According to the World Tourism Organization, tourism is becoming increasingly popular around the world and Portugal is one of those popular countries, where 3.7 million of tourists visited in 2016 and it is 3.9% more than in 2015. There is no doubt that tourism has significant economic benefits and usually it is the main economic driver of regions. Algarve region is precisely the place, where abandonment of tourism would make the majority of population unemployed and the region would suffer from an economic downturn, and therefore maintaining and developing tourism is vitally important. Despite economic benefits of tourism, researchers have found that large tourist flows strongly affect ecosystems, destroy natural landscape, cause habitat fragmentation and also have a negative social and cultural impact. The question of the conservation of natural resources, human well-being and the long-term economic viability of communities is of increasing concern. Conservation of natural resources, human well-being and the long-term economic viability of communities are the questions which are of great concern. Unfortunately, tourism growth has not been sufficiently organized, accurately planned and predicted long-term future forecasts. In addition, climate change has a major impact on the coast, and also on tourism and one of the most aggressive consequences is sea level rising, resulting in reduction of sandy beach carrying capacity and intensified coastal erosion. More and more legislation is being issued globally and at European level with countries committing to develop sustainable coastal management aimed at preserving ecosystems and reducing climate change. However, researches have found that there are many barriers to meeting those targets. Portugal is one of those countries where integrated coastal management is not fully implemented due to certain obstacles. In face of negative effects of tourism and the threats of climate change, it is necessary to assess the present quality of the beaches and to identify priorities for sustainable beach management. Objective – to assess the quality of coastal zones and tourism and to identify priorities and measures to improve sustainable tourism management. Object – four different types of beaches in Algarve region, Portugal: urban beach "Praia dos Pescadores", resort "Praia de Santa Eulalia", rural "Praia dos Olhos d'Agua" beach and remote "Praia de Falesia" beach. The methodology for assessing beach quality and management priorities has been compiled and comprised of three methods: initial SWOT analysis, which evaluates the internal strengths, weaknesses and external opportunities, threats. Following BARE (Bath Area Registration and Evalaution) analysis, which evaluates five parameters of each beach (safety, water quality, litter, landscape and facilities). For obtaining quantitive data, 50 questionnaires at each beach are conducted in order to get objective opinion of beach users. A detailed analysis of the scientific literature was carried out, which assessed: the current coastal situation on coasts of Algarve region; an overview of the implementation of sustainable coastal development strategies in Portugal, as well as an overview of the legal acts applicable to coastal protection and the implementation of sustainable development strategies; researches and the most commonly used methodologies for assessing beach quality. SWOT analysis was performed, where overcrowding, increasingly coastal urbanization, ecosystem and dunes degradation, coastal erosion and reduced beach carrying capacity due to sea level rising emerged as main future threats. After followed the evaluation of the beach quality by using Bathing Area Registration and Evaluation framework (BARE), where "Praia dos Pescadores", "Praia de Santa Eulalia" and "Praia dos Olhos d'Agua" obtained three-star ratings and Praia de Falesia site obtained four-star rating. The quantitative research data obtained through administration of 50 questionnaires per beach and respondents expressed the need for public toilets, showers, trails and broadwalks, garbage facilities, renewable energy, clean sand and vegetation health. The average age of respondents was 47,7 years and the majority (85%) were international tourists. After conducting SWOT, BARE and beach user questionnaires, one of conclusions was done that solar panel system need to be installed on beach objects. It was calculated that solar panel system on restaurant in urban beach (with government support (50%)) would cost 11 361 Eur and would pay off within 5 years, while calculations for the restaurant in resort showed that price of solar panel system would be 13 773 Eur and would pay off within 6 years. The paper presents recommendations for beach managers and municipalities: pay more attention to raising public education and awareness, combine beach nourishment with maritime structures, control urbanization on the coast by releasing a minimum distance law, set up wooden stairs and paths for tourists to walk, use solar energy in ships / restaurants, restrict light use during the night, integrate biofilic design into the interior and exterior of buildings, enter beach entry fees and fees for toilets and showers usage, use advertisements for waste prevention, recruite officers of dog control, plant shrubs and trees on beaches / slopes, increase cooperation with stakeholders.
According to the World Tourism Organization, tourism is becoming increasingly popular around the world and Portugal is one of those popular countries, where 3.7 million of tourists visited in 2016 and it is 3.9% more than in 2015. There is no doubt that tourism has significant economic benefits and usually it is the main economic driver of regions. Algarve region is precisely the place, where abandonment of tourism would make the majority of population unemployed and the region would suffer from an economic downturn, and therefore maintaining and developing tourism is vitally important. Despite economic benefits of tourism, researchers have found that large tourist flows strongly affect ecosystems, destroy natural landscape, cause habitat fragmentation and also have a negative social and cultural impact. The question of the conservation of natural resources, human well-being and the long-term economic viability of communities is of increasing concern. Conservation of natural resources, human well-being and the long-term economic viability of communities are the questions which are of great concern. Unfortunately, tourism growth has not been sufficiently organized, accurately planned and predicted long-term future forecasts. In addition, climate change has a major impact on the coast, and also on tourism and one of the most aggressive consequences is sea level rising, resulting in reduction of sandy beach carrying capacity and intensified coastal erosion. More and more legislation is being issued globally and at European level with countries committing to develop sustainable coastal management aimed at preserving ecosystems and reducing climate change. However, researches have found that there are many barriers to meeting those targets. Portugal is one of those countries where integrated coastal management is not fully implemented due to certain obstacles. In face of negative effects of tourism and the threats of climate change, it is necessary to assess the present quality of the beaches and to identify priorities for sustainable beach management. Objective – to assess the quality of coastal zones and tourism and to identify priorities and measures to improve sustainable tourism management. Object – four different types of beaches in Algarve region, Portugal: urban beach "Praia dos Pescadores", resort "Praia de Santa Eulalia", rural "Praia dos Olhos d'Agua" beach and remote "Praia de Falesia" beach. The methodology for assessing beach quality and management priorities has been compiled and comprised of three methods: initial SWOT analysis, which evaluates the internal strengths, weaknesses and external opportunities, threats. Following BARE (Bath Area Registration and Evalaution) analysis, which evaluates five parameters of each beach (safety, water quality, litter, landscape and facilities). For obtaining quantitive data, 50 questionnaires at each beach are conducted in order to get objective opinion of beach users. A detailed analysis of the scientific literature was carried out, which assessed: the current coastal situation on coasts of Algarve region; an overview of the implementation of sustainable coastal development strategies in Portugal, as well as an overview of the legal acts applicable to coastal protection and the implementation of sustainable development strategies; researches and the most commonly used methodologies for assessing beach quality. SWOT analysis was performed, where overcrowding, increasingly coastal urbanization, ecosystem and dunes degradation, coastal erosion and reduced beach carrying capacity due to sea level rising emerged as main future threats. After followed the evaluation of the beach quality by using Bathing Area Registration and Evaluation framework (BARE), where "Praia dos Pescadores", "Praia de Santa Eulalia" and "Praia dos Olhos d'Agua" obtained three-star ratings and Praia de Falesia site obtained four-star rating. The quantitative research data obtained through administration of 50 questionnaires per beach and respondents expressed the need for public toilets, showers, trails and broadwalks, garbage facilities, renewable energy, clean sand and vegetation health. The average age of respondents was 47,7 years and the majority (85%) were international tourists. After conducting SWOT, BARE and beach user questionnaires, one of conclusions was done that solar panel system need to be installed on beach objects. It was calculated that solar panel system on restaurant in urban beach (with government support (50%)) would cost 11 361 Eur and would pay off within 5 years, while calculations for the restaurant in resort showed that price of solar panel system would be 13 773 Eur and would pay off within 6 years. The paper presents recommendations for beach managers and municipalities: pay more attention to raising public education and awareness, combine beach nourishment with maritime structures, control urbanization on the coast by releasing a minimum distance law, set up wooden stairs and paths for tourists to walk, use solar energy in ships / restaurants, restrict light use during the night, integrate biofilic design into the interior and exterior of buildings, enter beach entry fees and fees for toilets and showers usage, use advertisements for waste prevention, recruite officers of dog control, plant shrubs and trees on beaches / slopes, increase cooperation with stakeholders.
SUMMARY The objective of this Master's Thesis is to analyze and compare Lithuania, Norway, Netherlands and The Great Britain Constitutional human rights and legal provisions wich ensure the rights and freedoms of sexual minorities. With regard to the comparative analysis of the present findings, disclosed the sexual minority rights in Lithuania. The Thesis consists of an introduction followed by two chapters and conclusions. The first chapter deals with the conceptions of sexual minorities and homosexual orientation. Also analyzed the Lithuanian Constitutional human rights and legal provisions wich provide the right to protection, equality, freedom of expression and privacy of sexual minorities. The second section consist legal acts analysis wich regulate sexual minorities rights in Norway, Netherlands and Great Britain. Specifying Constitutional rights and statutory provisions which are providing legal rights to protection, equality, freedom of expression and privacy of sexual minorities. Analyze and compare Lithuania, Norway, Netherlands and Great Britain Constitutional human rights and legal provisions wich ensure the rights and freedoms of sexual minorities. Sexual minorities are groups of people whose sexual orientation, gender identity or sexual characteristics are different from the presumed majority of the population, which are male or female heterosexuals. The term referred primarily to lesbians and gays, bisexuals and transgender people. These four categories are often grouped together and called as LGBT persons. Regarding of society formed stereotypes, these individuals are often faced with the legal and social exclusion. Opposition receives both authorization and prohibition to marry, adopt or publicly promote their way of life. Therefore, sexual minority rights and freedoms is one of the most debated topics in Lithuania and in the world. Article 21 of Lithuania Constitution provides that, the human person is inviolable. Human dignity shall be protected by law. It shall be prohibited to torture, injure, degrade, or maltreat, and to impose such penalties. Article 169 of the Criminal Code prohibit direct discrimination on grounds of sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality, beliefs or other attitudes. Prohibition of sale, produce, acquire to send, carry, keep the things that incite or promote hatred violence and discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and other cases are provided in the Criminal Code article 170. Article 29 of Lithuania Constitution lay down non-discrimination principle of all persons, other existing legislations guarantees equal rights to all people regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnic origin, disability, age, religion or belief. Article 2 paragraph 4 of Labour Code provides equality of employment law subjects, regardless of gender, sexual orientation and other circumstances. Article 2 of this act requires the employer to implement equal opportunities at work and in public service. Labour Safety and Health Act guarantees employed safe and healthy working conditions, regardless of the employee's sexual orientation. This act prohibit direct or indirect discrimination on grounds of age, sexual orientation, disability, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief. Article 25 of Lithuania Constitution provides that everyone has the right to hold opinions and to express them freely. Article 36 of Constitution lay, that unarmed citizens have the right in peaceful assembly. These two Constitutional provisions guaranties human right to expression. Country's Criminal Code, the Labour Code, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Equal Opportunity Act establishes the prohibition of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, but comparing to the rest of the world Lithuania valid legal regulation does not ensure sexual minority rights and freedoms. In Norway, the Netherlands and Great Britain gender identity is stored value of the law and same-sex marriage are legal by the law. These countries have established legal regulation laying down the conditions and gender reassignment procedures. In Netherlands and Great Britain the same sex can form a partnership. There is no statutory regulations, which set the conditions for gender reassignment procedures in Lithuania. Article 2.27 of Lithuanian Civil Code provides that \"an unmarried adult has the right to medically change their sex, if it is medically possible. Sex changing conditions laid down by law". To implement these provisions was prepared draft law regulating the treatment of transsexualism, but due to conflicting public assessment, this law has not been adopted. For this reason in country does not exist discriminatory crimes of sexual identity basis. The country does not allow same-sex marriage or partnership formation. Article 38 of Lithuania Constitution establishes that "marriage are formed in agreement between a man and a woman ''. According to this provision, the same-sex marriage are not available in the Country. Lithuania legal acts unlike in Norway, Netherlands and Great Britain does not include gender identity concept. In Lithuania transsexual person (a person who has a gender identity confusion) rights and freedoms are not guaranteed, because none of the above provisions of the law does not include gender identity grounds. For this reason, information about hate crimes, sexual identity simply does not exist.
The paper compares the introduction and stabilization of national currency in the First and Second Republics of Lithuania (LR I and LR II) during the years 1918–1922 and 1990–1993, respectively. These diachronic comparisons are supplemented by the synchronic ones where LR I is compared with Estonia, Latvia, and Poland and LR II with Estonia and Latvia. Jointly with Lithuania, all these countries faced the challenge of nation state building simultaneously with the macroeconomic stabilization. Both times, Lithuania was the last to introduce the national currency. The analysis starts with a discussion of the similarities and differences in the economic situations of the LR I and LR II during the first years of independence. In this discussion, the author argues that the prototype of the Soviet command administrative economy was the administrative war economy of Kaiser Germany during WWI, with occupied Lithuania suffering under extreme forms of the administrative control of economic activities by the Oberost authorities. The restoration of the capitalist free market economy and macroeconomic equilibrium was complicated by the extraordinary spending to finance the independence wars in 1918–1920 when national states-in-making lacked administrative capacities to collect taxes in the ordinary ways. Therefore, all Lithuanian neighbours did finance their independence wars by inflation tax, introducing national currencies almost immediately after proclaiming independence and collecting up to 2/3 of the total state revenue from the seigniorage. Among all countries fighting indepenendence wars in the modern times, Lithuania was probably unique in its persistent effort to pay the war cost without the inflation tax. As Lithuania maintained a monetary union with Germany up to 1922, it donated to this country the seigniorage income and was not able to draft all its available manpower because of monetary restrictions. At the same time, the early LR I provides for the posteriority an example of the frugal management of state finance policies even under extraordinary circumstances. This example still lacks the due appreciation by neoliberal monetarist apologists of the sound monetary and fiscal policies. During its early time of restored independence, LR II procrastinated to end the monetary union with its former imperial suzerain (Russia) too for quite a different reason: the choice of the Gediminas Vagnorius' government to participate in the "inflation race" in the rouble zone after September 1991 when the restoration of independent Lithuania was internationally recognized. The winners in this race were the former republics of the USSR that were the leaders in rising prices and wages. Therefore, while Lithuania in 1918–1922 suffered only from imported (from Germany) inflation, in 1991–1992 this country both imported and exported inflation. While permissive policies of the Vagnorius government helped to void the efforts of the Moscow to undermine Lithuanian independence in January–August 1991 by the economic blockade, their continuation after the dissolution of the USSR delayed the onset of macroeconomic stabilization until the early summer 1993. Even after October 1st, 1992 when the national provisional currency talonas became the only legal tender in Lithuania, its govermnent continued collecting the inflation tax, which was immoral given the absence of the war or other extraordinary circumstances. Because of the delayed macroeconomic stabilization, market reforms in Lithuania were conducted in the wrong sequence, with a large-scale privatization enacted under conditions, near to hyperinflation, which favoured prolonged rent-seeking by the early winners. The correct sequence of market reforms in Estonia, due to its early monetary stabilization (since June 1992), jointly with more favourable initial conditions, helped this country to become the leader in the "Baltic race". The policy of Gediminas Vagnorius to chase after short-time advantages of the leadership in the inflation race among the former Soviet republics was punished by Lithuania losing the long-time advantages of the leadership in the transformation race among them Baltic countries. According to another concluding causal argument, the governments of LR I committed a strategic blunder by declining to use the inflation tax for the extraordinary spending to finance the independence war in 1918–1920. Despite their smaller populations and a greater WWI damage (in Latvia's case), both Estonia and Latvia raised more than 70 000 manpower each, financing their war efforts by the inflation tax. Because of its responsible and frugal financial policies, which were wrong given the extraordinary circumstances of a war, the peasantly penny-pinching Lithuania had only some 30 000 manpower at the time of critical battles for its historical capital Vilnius in the autumn 1920. Such military power was too small and weak to hold the city against only one allegedly rebellious division under general Lucjan Żeligowski from landlordly lavish Poland which, like other Lithuania's neighbours, financed its war effort in 1918–1920 by the inflation tax. So Lithuania lost Vilnius in 1920, because it was not ready to pay its (monetary) price. Credits to Prof. Dr. Arnd Bauerkämper from Freie Universität Berlin who hosted the research visit of the author to Berlin to collect and research part of the sources (about post-WWI inflation in Germany and Eastern Europe) used in the paper.
The paper compares the introduction and stabilization of national currency in the First and Second Republics of Lithuania (LR I and LR II) during the years 1918–1922 and 1990–1993, respectively. These diachronic comparisons are supplemented by the synchronic ones where LR I is compared with Estonia, Latvia, and Poland and LR II with Estonia and Latvia. Jointly with Lithuania, all these countries faced the challenge of nation state building simultaneously with the macroeconomic stabilization. Both times, Lithuania was the last to introduce the national currency. The analysis starts with a discussion of the similarities and differences in the economic situations of the LR I and LR II during the first years of independence. In this discussion, the author argues that the prototype of the Soviet command administrative economy was the administrative war economy of Kaiser Germany during WWI, with occupied Lithuania suffering under extreme forms of the administrative control of economic activities by the Oberost authorities. The restoration of the capitalist free market economy and macroeconomic equilibrium was complicated by the extraordinary spending to finance the independence wars in 1918–1920 when national states-in-making lacked administrative capacities to collect taxes in the ordinary ways. Therefore, all Lithuanian neighbours did finance their independence wars by inflation tax, introducing national currencies almost immediately after proclaiming independence and collecting up to 2/3 of the total state revenue from the seigniorage. Among all countries fighting indepenendence wars in the modern times, Lithuania was probably unique in its persistent effort to pay the war cost without the inflation tax. As Lithuania maintained a monetary union with Germany up to 1922, it donated to this country the seigniorage income and was not able to draft all its available manpower because of monetary restrictions. At the same time, the early LR I provides for the posteriority an example of the frugal management of state finance policies even under extraordinary circumstances. This example still lacks the due appreciation by neoliberal monetarist apologists of the sound monetary and fiscal policies. During its early time of restored independence, LR II procrastinated to end the monetary union with its former imperial suzerain (Russia) too for quite a different reason: the choice of the Gediminas Vagnorius' government to participate in the "inflation race" in the rouble zone after September 1991 when the restoration of independent Lithuania was internationally recognized. The winners in this race were the former republics of the USSR that were the leaders in rising prices and wages. Therefore, while Lithuania in 1918–1922 suffered only from imported (from Germany) inflation, in 1991–1992 this country both imported and exported inflation. While permissive policies of the Vagnorius government helped to void the efforts of the Moscow to undermine Lithuanian independence in January–August 1991 by the economic blockade, their continuation after the dissolution of the USSR delayed the onset of macroeconomic stabilization until the early summer 1993. Even after October 1st, 1992 when the national provisional currency talonas became the only legal tender in Lithuania, its govermnent continued collecting the inflation tax, which was immoral given the absence of the war or other extraordinary circumstances. Because of the delayed macroeconomic stabilization, market reforms in Lithuania were conducted in the wrong sequence, with a large-scale privatization enacted under conditions, near to hyperinflation, which favoured prolonged rent-seeking by the early winners. The correct sequence of market reforms in Estonia, due to its early monetary stabilization (since June 1992), jointly with more favourable initial conditions, helped this country to become the leader in the "Baltic race". The policy of Gediminas Vagnorius to chase after short-time advantages of the leadership in the inflation race among the former Soviet republics was punished by Lithuania losing the long-time advantages of the leadership in the transformation race among them Baltic countries. According to another concluding causal argument, the governments of LR I committed a strategic blunder by declining to use the inflation tax for the extraordinary spending to finance the independence war in 1918–1920. Despite their smaller populations and a greater WWI damage (in Latvia's case), both Estonia and Latvia raised more than 70 000 manpower each, financing their war efforts by the inflation tax. Because of its responsible and frugal financial policies, which were wrong given the extraordinary circumstances of a war, the peasantly penny-pinching Lithuania had only some 30 000 manpower at the time of critical battles for its historical capital Vilnius in the autumn 1920. Such military power was too small and weak to hold the city against only one allegedly rebellious division under general Lucjan Żeligowski from landlordly lavish Poland which, like other Lithuania's neighbours, financed its war effort in 1918–1920 by the inflation tax. So Lithuania lost Vilnius in 1920, because it was not ready to pay its (monetary) price. Credits to Prof. Dr. Arnd Bauerkämper from Freie Universität Berlin who hosted the research visit of the author to Berlin to collect and research part of the sources (about post-WWI inflation in Germany and Eastern Europe) used in the paper.
The paper compares the introduction and stabilization of national currency in the First and Second Republics of Lithuania (LR I and LR II) during the years 1918–1922 and 1990–1993, respectively. These diachronic comparisons are supplemented by the synchronic ones where LR I is compared with Estonia, Latvia, and Poland and LR II with Estonia and Latvia. Jointly with Lithuania, all these countries faced the challenge of nation state building simultaneously with the macroeconomic stabilization. Both times, Lithuania was the last to introduce the national currency. The analysis starts with a discussion of the similarities and differences in the economic situations of the LR I and LR II during the first years of independence. In this discussion, the author argues that the prototype of the Soviet command administrative economy was the administrative war economy of Kaiser Germany during WWI, with occupied Lithuania suffering under extreme forms of the administrative control of economic activities by the Oberost authorities. The restoration of the capitalist free market economy and macroeconomic equilibrium was complicated by the extraordinary spending to finance the independence wars in 1918–1920 when national states-in-making lacked administrative capacities to collect taxes in the ordinary ways. Therefore, all Lithuanian neighbours did finance their independence wars by inflation tax, introducing national currencies almost immediately after proclaiming independence and collecting up to 2/3 of the total state revenue from the seigniorage. Among all countries fighting indepenendence wars in the modern times, Lithuania was probably unique in its persistent effort to pay the war cost without the inflation tax. As Lithuania maintained a monetary union with Germany up to 1922, it donated to this country the seigniorage income and was not able to draft all its available manpower because of monetary restrictions. At the same time, the early LR I provides for the posteriority an example of the frugal management of state finance policies even under extraordinary circumstances. This example still lacks the due appreciation by neoliberal monetarist apologists of the sound monetary and fiscal policies. During its early time of restored independence, LR II procrastinated to end the monetary union with its former imperial suzerain (Russia) too for quite a different reason: the choice of the Gediminas Vagnorius' government to participate in the "inflation race" in the rouble zone after September 1991 when the restoration of independent Lithuania was internationally recognized. The winners in this race were the former republics of the USSR that were the leaders in rising prices and wages. Therefore, while Lithuania in 1918–1922 suffered only from imported (from Germany) inflation, in 1991–1992 this country both imported and exported inflation. While permissive policies of the Vagnorius government helped to void the efforts of the Moscow to undermine Lithuanian independence in January–August 1991 by the economic blockade, their continuation after the dissolution of the USSR delayed the onset of macroeconomic stabilization until the early summer 1993. Even after October 1st, 1992 when the national provisional currency talonas became the only legal tender in Lithuania, its govermnent continued collecting the inflation tax, which was immoral given the absence of the war or other extraordinary circumstances. Because of the delayed macroeconomic stabilization, market reforms in Lithuania were conducted in the wrong sequence, with a large-scale privatization enacted under conditions, near to hyperinflation, which favoured prolonged rent-seeking by the early winners. The correct sequence of market reforms in Estonia, due to its early monetary stabilization (since June 1992), jointly with more favourable initial conditions, helped this country to become the leader in the "Baltic race". The policy of Gediminas Vagnorius to chase after short-time advantages of the leadership in the inflation race among the former Soviet republics was punished by Lithuania losing the long-time advantages of the leadership in the transformation race among them Baltic countries. According to another concluding causal argument, the governments of LR I committed a strategic blunder by declining to use the inflation tax for the extraordinary spending to finance the independence war in 1918–1920. Despite their smaller populations and a greater WWI damage (in Latvia's case), both Estonia and Latvia raised more than 70 000 manpower each, financing their war efforts by the inflation tax. Because of its responsible and frugal financial policies, which were wrong given the extraordinary circumstances of a war, the peasantly penny-pinching Lithuania had only some 30 000 manpower at the time of critical battles for its historical capital Vilnius in the autumn 1920. Such military power was too small and weak to hold the city against only one allegedly rebellious division under general Lucjan Żeligowski from landlordly lavish Poland which, like other Lithuania's neighbours, financed its war effort in 1918–1920 by the inflation tax. So Lithuania lost Vilnius in 1920, because it was not ready to pay its (monetary) price. Credits to Prof. Dr. Arnd Bauerkämper from Freie Universität Berlin who hosted the research visit of the author to Berlin to collect and research part of the sources (about post-WWI inflation in Germany and Eastern Europe) used in the paper.
The paper compares the introduction and stabilization of national currency in the First and Second Republics of Lithuania (LR I and LR II) during the years 1918–1922 and 1990–1993, respectively. These diachronic comparisons are supplemented by the synchronic ones where LR I is compared with Estonia, Latvia, and Poland and LR II with Estonia and Latvia. Jointly with Lithuania, all these countries faced the challenge of nation state building simultaneously with the macroeconomic stabilization. Both times, Lithuania was the last to introduce the national currency. The analysis starts with a discussion of the similarities and differences in the economic situations of the LR I and LR II during the first years of independence. In this discussion, the author argues that the prototype of the Soviet command administrative economy was the administrative war economy of Kaiser Germany during WWI, with occupied Lithuania suffering under extreme forms of the administrative control of economic activities by the Oberost authorities. The restoration of the capitalist free market economy and macroeconomic equilibrium was complicated by the extraordinary spending to finance the independence wars in 1918–1920 when national states-in-making lacked administrative capacities to collect taxes in the ordinary ways. Therefore, all Lithuanian neighbours did finance their independence wars by inflation tax, introducing national currencies almost immediately after proclaiming independence and collecting up to 2/3 of the total state revenue from the seigniorage. Among all countries fighting indepenendence wars in the modern times, Lithuania was probably unique in its persistent effort to pay the war cost without the inflation tax. As Lithuania maintained a monetary union with Germany up to 1922, it donated to this country the seigniorage income and was not able to draft all its available manpower because of monetary restrictions. At the same time, the early LR I provides for the posteriority an example of the frugal management of state finance policies even under extraordinary circumstances. This example still lacks the due appreciation by neoliberal monetarist apologists of the sound monetary and fiscal policies. During its early time of restored independence, LR II procrastinated to end the monetary union with its former imperial suzerain (Russia) too for quite a different reason: the choice of the Gediminas Vagnorius' government to participate in the "inflation race" in the rouble zone after September 1991 when the restoration of independent Lithuania was internationally recognized. The winners in this race were the former republics of the USSR that were the leaders in rising prices and wages. Therefore, while Lithuania in 1918–1922 suffered only from imported (from Germany) inflation, in 1991–1992 this country both imported and exported inflation. While permissive policies of the Vagnorius government helped to void the efforts of the Moscow to undermine Lithuanian independence in January–August 1991 by the economic blockade, their continuation after the dissolution of the USSR delayed the onset of macroeconomic stabilization until the early summer 1993. Even after October 1st, 1992 when the national provisional currency talonas became the only legal tender in Lithuania, its govermnent continued collecting the inflation tax, which was immoral given the absence of the war or other extraordinary circumstances. Because of the delayed macroeconomic stabilization, market reforms in Lithuania were conducted in the wrong sequence, with a large-scale privatization enacted under conditions, near to hyperinflation, which favoured prolonged rent-seeking by the early winners. The correct sequence of market reforms in Estonia, due to its early monetary stabilization (since June 1992), jointly with more favourable initial conditions, helped this country to become the leader in the "Baltic race". The policy of Gediminas Vagnorius to chase after short-time advantages of the leadership in the inflation race among the former Soviet republics was punished by Lithuania losing the long-time advantages of the leadership in the transformation race among them Baltic countries. According to another concluding causal argument, the governments of LR I committed a strategic blunder by declining to use the inflation tax for the extraordinary spending to finance the independence war in 1918–1920. Despite their smaller populations and a greater WWI damage (in Latvia's case), both Estonia and Latvia raised more than 70 000 manpower each, financing their war efforts by the inflation tax. Because of its responsible and frugal financial policies, which were wrong given the extraordinary circumstances of a war, the peasantly penny-pinching Lithuania had only some 30 000 manpower at the time of critical battles for its historical capital Vilnius in the autumn 1920. Such military power was too small and weak to hold the city against only one allegedly rebellious division under general Lucjan Żeligowski from landlordly lavish Poland which, like other Lithuania's neighbours, financed its war effort in 1918–1920 by the inflation tax. So Lithuania lost Vilnius in 1920, because it was not ready to pay its (monetary) price. Credits to Prof. Dr. Arnd Bauerkämper from Freie Universität Berlin who hosted the research visit of the author to Berlin to collect and research part of the sources (about post-WWI inflation in Germany and Eastern Europe) used in the paper.
The work was made by Irma Kruckaite, Political sociology master's degree student of VPU Social sciences faculty Sociology and political sciences department. The subject of the work is young attitude towards national identity as a value and its conservation opportunities of globalization (Druskininkai town case). The director of the work is Dr. V. Senkus. The work size is 60 pages. The aim of work: explore what young people view about nationalism like value, what are the main factors affecting the formation of such an approach. For this purpose there were tasks raised: • Summarize the theoretical aspects of the concept of values. • An overview of the various sociological authors' interpretations about nationality. • To analyze the challenges of globalization for nationality. • Based on research results to establish how nationality is expressed and its preservation ways. Hypotheses of the research: 1. Nationality for young people today, is not a priority value – was proved. Young people understand what is nationality, but the general answer is perception that young people represent not emigration if feel safe in Lithuania. Young people need motivation, that nationality wasn't a burden but an asset to be transferred to their future generations. Nationality invaded the consciousness of people, the recovery of Lithuania's independence in 1990. But now it has spread dangerously overshadow people's material poverty, social vulnerability. Young people are a passive observer; they have simply run out of determination, as each election, promising a better life remains just promises. The talented youth gather foreign universities and to a career high in Lithuania. Frequent claims gladly stay at home. Unfortunately, our country is unable to detain them. 2. Youth opinion preservation of national identity is linked with wellbeing rise – was proved. Thus one can assume that those who can afford just to live people are concerned about the spirit of much less than affluent people. Responses felt that young families and young people today not emigration if feel safe in Lithuania. Based on data of Statistic Department for 2010 January – September emigrated 67.7 thousand countries population is 51.4 thousand more than last year same period. The main reason for this increase - immigrants to legalize their desire for the departure of the Republic of Lithuania Law on Health Insurance obligations lay down in permanent residents of the country to pay the mandatory health insurance premiums. The main purpose of immigration - work. 2009 more than 85 percent of the emigrants went to work abroad (2008 - 70 percent). Young people need motivation, that nationality wasn't a burden but an asset to be able to transfer their future generations. 3. Effective ways of promoting nationality is the psychological and economic. – was proved. It can be assumed that Lithuania, in particular, should ensure its citizens material well-being, to protect the rights of citizens, only to build a mature society cherishing national identity as an asset. The work consists of an introduction, theoretical part, which considers: the concept of values, judgments and interpretations of nationality and the challenges of globalization. The practical part presents a research and data analysis. Then there are represented final conclusions, a summary and the list of literature. In summary the theoretical part, globalization significantly changes the whole social context in structuring the personality, beliefs and values scale. On a global cultural universality is the possible merger into a single structure with specific tolerance individuality, diversity and other humanitarian values, to form a democratic political system. Collaborate and ethnic identity of the other one works, but does not eliminate far. National survival, they become the guarantor of the continuity of traditional ethnic culture is not alone, but by the state. It is the state's strength. It follows that it is the national character is the key link between the nation states. Therefore, we note that the community is based on nationalism. Nation history and people of self-concept and collective identity this is foundation of the nation cultural. Supranational integration into the structures, it is necessary to preserve and promote national culture, because this is only way to preserve national unity. It was formed by culture and fostering national and emotional ties connecting the community and the spiritual basis of life. Therefore, the state must maintain order, to enable citizens to prosperity, to ensure their safety, freedoms and rights. Thus, people of all age's qualitative interviews showed that nationality is perceived as the love of homeland, the Lithuanian language, culture and traditions. Nationality associated with the history of Lithuania and is closely associated with patriotism. Many of the respondents expressed concern about the future of nationality values in globalization situation. Worry about the displacement of the Lithuanian language, because this is one of the most important components of nationality. Interviews revealed the optimistic views of the Lithuanian national identity perspective. The Lithuanians are scattered around the world made available to other nations, to know where Lithuania is. However, it is noted that many respondents believe that as nationality like a values depends on the welfare state. Most of the respondents have a responsibility put to the government. How much less promising put citizens in public organizations. The prevailing opinion is that the state must take care of the nation in economic and spiritual well-being, secure environment, while motivate young people and their children proud of their country.
The work was made by Irma Kruckaite, Political sociology master's degree student of VPU Social sciences faculty Sociology and political sciences department. The subject of the work is young attitude towards national identity as a value and its conservation opportunities of globalization (Druskininkai town case). The director of the work is Dr. V. Senkus. The work size is 60 pages. The aim of work: explore what young people view about nationalism like value, what are the main factors affecting the formation of such an approach. For this purpose there were tasks raised: • Summarize the theoretical aspects of the concept of values. • An overview of the various sociological authors' interpretations about nationality. • To analyze the challenges of globalization for nationality. • Based on research results to establish how nationality is expressed and its preservation ways. Hypotheses of the research: 1. Nationality for young people today, is not a priority value – was proved. Young people understand what is nationality, but the general answer is perception that young people represent not emigration if feel safe in Lithuania. Young people need motivation, that nationality wasn't a burden but an asset to be transferred to their future generations. Nationality invaded the consciousness of people, the recovery of Lithuania's independence in 1990. But now it has spread dangerously overshadow people's material poverty, social vulnerability. Young people are a passive observer; they have simply run out of determination, as each election, promising a better life remains just promises. The talented youth gather foreign universities and to a career high in Lithuania. Frequent claims gladly stay at home. Unfortunately, our country is unable to detain them. 2. Youth opinion preservation of national identity is linked with wellbeing rise – was proved. Thus one can assume that those who can afford just to live people are concerned about the spirit of much less than affluent people. Responses felt that young families and young people today not emigration if feel safe in Lithuania. Based on data of Statistic Department for 2010 January – September emigrated 67.7 thousand countries population is 51.4 thousand more than last year same period. The main reason for this increase - immigrants to legalize their desire for the departure of the Republic of Lithuania Law on Health Insurance obligations lay down in permanent residents of the country to pay the mandatory health insurance premiums. The main purpose of immigration - work. 2009 more than 85 percent of the emigrants went to work abroad (2008 - 70 percent). Young people need motivation, that nationality wasn't a burden but an asset to be able to transfer their future generations. 3. Effective ways of promoting nationality is the psychological and economic. – was proved. It can be assumed that Lithuania, in particular, should ensure its citizens material well-being, to protect the rights of citizens, only to build a mature society cherishing national identity as an asset. The work consists of an introduction, theoretical part, which considers: the concept of values, judgments and interpretations of nationality and the challenges of globalization. The practical part presents a research and data analysis. Then there are represented final conclusions, a summary and the list of literature. In summary the theoretical part, globalization significantly changes the whole social context in structuring the personality, beliefs and values scale. On a global cultural universality is the possible merger into a single structure with specific tolerance individuality, diversity and other humanitarian values, to form a democratic political system. Collaborate and ethnic identity of the other one works, but does not eliminate far. National survival, they become the guarantor of the continuity of traditional ethnic culture is not alone, but by the state. It is the state's strength. It follows that it is the national character is the key link between the nation states. Therefore, we note that the community is based on nationalism. Nation history and people of self-concept and collective identity this is foundation of the nation cultural. Supranational integration into the structures, it is necessary to preserve and promote national culture, because this is only way to preserve national unity. It was formed by culture and fostering national and emotional ties connecting the community and the spiritual basis of life. Therefore, the state must maintain order, to enable citizens to prosperity, to ensure their safety, freedoms and rights. Thus, people of all age's qualitative interviews showed that nationality is perceived as the love of homeland, the Lithuanian language, culture and traditions. Nationality associated with the history of Lithuania and is closely associated with patriotism. Many of the respondents expressed concern about the future of nationality values in globalization situation. Worry about the displacement of the Lithuanian language, because this is one of the most important components of nationality. Interviews revealed the optimistic views of the Lithuanian national identity perspective. The Lithuanians are scattered around the world made available to other nations, to know where Lithuania is. However, it is noted that many respondents believe that as nationality like a values depends on the welfare state. Most of the respondents have a responsibility put to the government. How much less promising put citizens in public organizations. The prevailing opinion is that the state must take care of the nation in economic and spiritual well-being, secure environment, while motivate young people and their children proud of their country.
2003 EU accession referenda results in the 8 East Central European countries (Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia, & Latvia) have been analyzed examining regional dimension of their results. Two criteria, active euro-optimism (percentage of YES voters out of all the electorate in particular region), & active euro-skepticism (percentage of NO voters out of all the electorate in the region), have been used. Comparison with two other variables, economic (GDP per capita in the region) & ethnic (percentage of ethnic group other than title one, if remarkable) has been made; Pearson correlations have been calculated. Though there is common agreement on suppositional influence of regional factors (possibly, North-South, East-West, urban-rural, richer-poorer regional cleavages, exceptional case of the capital city, influence of densely inhabited ethnic groups etc.) in previous euro-integration referenda, there were no consistent analyses on it. Examining of 8 East Central European countries has showed both varieties from country to country as well as a number of general trends. In Slovenia, region of its capital city, Ljubljana, is more euro-optimistic compared with eastern Pomurska region (Maribor & Ptuj). Though regional economic irregularities not enough significant, as well as the number of examples too small for generalization, one can suppose West-East cleavage connected with the economic factor here. In Hungary, though voters' turnout was exceptionally low, both factor of higher euro-optimism in the capital city, Budapest, was evident, as well as strong relation between economic factor & voting behavior. However, Hungary has its own specifics: higher economic development of the region increases both active euro-optimism & active euro-skepticism, too. This, in turn, cannot exclude that factor of "passive euro-skepticism" is important here. In Lithuania, strong relations between size of ethnic minorities in the region & both active euro-optimism (negative) & active euro-skepticism (positive) were evident. More complications were, to evaluate influence of the economic factor: present statistics of GDP per capita in apskritys are far not enough to support supposition that voting results in particular Lithuania's territories are related with their economic development, too. In Slovakia, quite strong influence can be found of the size of Hungarian ethnic minority, but the opposite compared to Lithuania: increasing number of ethnic Hungarians do increase active euro-optimism & decrease active euro-skepticism. This is in good accordance with widely known believe of Hungarian ethnic group that EU membership will improve their status. Surprisingly, in Slovakia it was impossibly to evaluate the influence of another ethnic factor: though this country is widely known by the problems connected with Roma ethnic group, official statistics does not even show remarkable percentage of Roma in any region at all. Influence of economic factor, though number of examples is very small, is also present in Slovakia: the higher is GDP per capita, the higher is active euro-optimism, & at the same time the lower active euro-skepticism. In Poland, clear pattern of lower active euro-optimism was shown for its eastern regions, Podlaskie, Lubelskie, & Podkarpackie; they are economically poorest, at the same time, & characterized by specific political culture (bigger number of orthodox, smaller agricultural incomes, dependence on small trans-border trade, etc.). In the Czech Republic, regional economic pattern is also present: increase in regional GDP per capita also increases the active euro-optimism. Capital city, Prague, has exceptional position: it is most economically developed, & most euro-optimistic, too. For Estonia, complicated picture of inter-related influence of both ethnic & economic factors is typical. On one hand, there are no clear correlations between economic & voting variables. On the other, eastern Ida-Virumaa region, densely populated by ethnic Russians & the least economically developed, is described at the same time as mostly active euro-optimistic, & less euro-skeptical. The most reliable explanation would be, economic underdevelopment & ethnicity, complicated by stronger trans-border relations of individuals living near Russian border, may reinforce uncertainty in euro-integration perspective. For Latvia, the ethnic factor is very much evident: Pearson correlation between regional percentage of Russian population & active euro-skepticism is 0.906; reversely, it is connected with active euro-optimism. Eastern regions of Daugavpils & Rezekne affected also by economic underdevelopment were the most euro-skeptical among all 8 East European countries & became only regions where bigger part of inhabitants were actively opposed EU integration than supported. Thus, a number of cleavages can be generalized for majority of the acceding countries examined. "Center-periphery" cleavage is more or less evident for all countries except of Lithuania & Latvia: better socio-economic development seems to be overcomplicated by ethnic factors in two the latter. In Slovenia, Poland, and, especially, the Baltic States, the East-West cleavage is important. This can be explained by specifics of eastern regions: economic underdevelopment, personal & business ties beyond border, especially among Russian ethnic group in the East of the Baltic States, can lead to rational individual arguments against integration into European Union. With reversed relation, ethnic factor is typical for Hungarian ethnic group in Slovakia: support for euro-integration is predominant within it. The universal factor influencing electoral behavior in referenda is economic one, especially remarkable for Visegrad countries & Slovenia. Adapted from the source document.
Summary In the Master's final thesis "Does Lithuania violate human rights by refusing to provide treatment for people free of charge?" are analyzed the obligation of the State, set by Article 53 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and problems in the health system. The right to free of charge treatment belongs to the group of social human rights. The implementation of this group of human rights usually depends on the economic situation of the state and, in particular, right to free charge treatment depends on the health protection policy of the state. Health care systems are criticized around a world. By reason of expensive medical technologies and medicine as such, require huge sums of money, which is scare. Patient's needs and expectations for health care, health and quality of life are growing. Patients become more aware and demanding on health care. In these conditions health care quality helps to save resources and better meets patient's needs and expectations. Globalization and privatization processes determine expansion of health care services and patient's market. The Constitution was adopted by referendum on the 25th of October 1992. Since these days continues a period of biggest changes: a new system of social, economical, political relations was settled. The right of to free of charge health protection is established in Article 53 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, which determines that the state shall take care of people's health and have to guarantee medical aid and services in the event of sickness. The procedure for providing medical aid to citizens free of charge at state health care institutions shall be established by law. The Constitution shall be an integral and directly applicable statute. Every person may defend his or her rights on the basis of the Constitution. Also there are more documents which define the existence of the free of charge treatment such as the Law of Health Care institutions of the Republic of Lithuania, Law of Health system of the Republic of Lithuania, Law of Public Health of Republic of Lithuania. After all, the coming of the Constitution was preconditioned by the need to protect human rights and freedoms from the possible state abuse with power. The idea of the Constitution is the limitation of power that guarantees the individual's rights and freedoms. This study consists of three chapters. The first part of the study entitled "The concept of the right to health care" presents conception of health care definition, objectives and their development, also patient's rights and responsibilities. There are various definitions of the term "health", as well as health assessment indicators are analyzed in detail. This chapter presents strategic aspects of health care quality: health care quality better meets human requirements and expectations for health care. Health care quality is a systemic, universal, continuous process oriented to the patients needs. The point of health care quality is not only to seek for better health of patients, but also approvingly effect their quality of life. Health care quality is based on continuous learning of health professionals and patients, health care quality helps to economize resources and make reinvestments. This chapter deals with health care quality and quality improvement problems and basic principles. The second chapter of the study is entitled "Constitutional right to free of charge treatment" includes three different sections. Part one "The Constitutional right to free of charge treatment at the international level" presents the aspect of Australia, Canada, Germany and Poland health care system, quality management, steady progress, patient's view, government regulation. Part two "The right to free of charge treatment is firmed in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania" defines major social factors of the state: government budget, social health protection. Moreover, presents the obligation to guarantee medical aid and services in the event of sickness. Part three is analyzing the obligation of the State, set by Article 53 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania. Right to free of charge treatment consists of five related aspects – health care system, government funding, compulsory health insurance and patient's rights. Chapter free "Right to health protection" presents health care situation in Lithuania and in other countries. Health protection system is the main social target of suitable development. This system, for public health care aims to ensure adequate health care and the improvement in population's health status. This chapter involves three sections. The first section is about right to health protection. Citizens have a right to health protection which was consolidated in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and was adopted in early December 2000. The second is about compulsory health insurance. Compulsory health insurance is a national population for the costs of health care and usually is instituted as a program of health care reform. It is enforced by law. This chapter dilates on analyses compulsory health care insurance advantages and disadvantages. Besides chapter three includes empirical analysis – layers and medic interview – has been made. The results of analysis confirmed the hypothesis, that due to unprovided treatment free of charge, the human rights are partially violated. Statistics shows that 19, 5 % of Lithuanian people say that free of charge treatment doesn't exist in Lithuania. More and more people disappoint of situation in Lithuania. Other 7, 4 % claim that free of charge treatment exists. This thesis is analyzing the establishment of the right to free of charge treatment in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and other laws. The aim of this study is to determine a situation of medical care and free of charge treatment in Lithuania. The study analyses the nature of the obligations of states under Article 53 of the Constitution. In the end of the work an empirical analyses – layers and medic interview. The results of analyses confirmed the hypothesis that human rights are partly violated in Lithuania. There is no political awareness of human rights violations.
Relevance of the topic. Lithuania is not a large country and sports talents are not emerging very often. It does not depend on the social or economic situation of the country (Schnabel et al., 1994; Cedaro, 2000; Carling et al., 2009). When giving the opportunity for the talent to achieve positive results in sports, the talented personalities have to be selected, the purposeful training program has to be concluded as well as the monitoring of the practical implementation of the program has to be performed (Regnier et al., 1993; Durand-Bush, Salmela, 2001; Abernethy, 2008; Vaeyens et al., 2008; Bailey et al., 2010; Burgess, Naughton, 2010; Philips et al., 2010; Ford et al., 2011). Therefore it is very important that the training of the athletes has to be conceptualized, so a small quantity of the talented athletes is developed as optimally as possible. Inaccurate training system prevents the athletes from revealing their own potential. Thus, only the consistent sports training system shall stimulate a more rapid improvement of the sports results, as it is harder to identify a talent than to develop it (Balyi, Hamilton, 1999; Raslanas, 2001; Malina et al., 2004; Balyi, Williams, 2009; Stafford, 2010). It was considered for a long time that success in sports depends solely on the athletes, who are physically strong and developed tactically (Krasilshchikov, 2011), however, due to increase of the competition between athletes (De Bosscher et al., 2006) and major political and commercial influence of sports (Green, Oakley, 2001), there is a necessity to create long-term development programs with respect to different sports (Balyi, Hamilton, 2004; Balyi, Williams, 2009; Stafford, 2010). Long-term development of the young athletes taking place for a period between eight–to–twelve years before becoming elite athlete is a purposeful and integral didactic process (Ericsson, Charness, 1994; Salmela et al., 1998; Balyi, 2001; Balyi, Hamilton, 2004; Balyi, Williams, 2009; Stafford, 2010) which is significantly affected by the body composition of the athletes (genotypic and phenotypic factors) (Heyward, Stolarczyk, 1996; Jebb et al., 2000; Drinkwater et al., 2008; Ostojic et al., 2006; Abraham, 2010), training program (Trninic et al., 2001; Milanovič, 2002; Balčiūnas et al., 2006), exceptionally physical (Drinkwater et al., 2008; Delextrat, Cohen, 2009) and technical fitness (Apostolidis et al., 2004; Karpowicz, 2006), nature of sport performance (Hucinski, 2004; Dembinski, 2005). A reasonable long-term development system of young basketball players began to take shape in seventh decade of the 20th century. Different types of training were distinguished in such system: integral, physical, technical, tactical and theoretic (Stonkus, 1992; Butautas, 2002). The scientists have different opinions on the long-term development. Zeldovič and Keraminas (Зельдович, Кераминас, 1964) provide that 50 % of the total training time in the training cycle of the boys aged 11–14 years should be attributed to the physical and technical training. Dobry (1986) and Stonkus (1985) provide that physical training should prevail (at least 40 % of the total training time) in the training of boys aged 11–14 years. Other scientists (Mikulowsky, Oszast, 1976, Butautas, 2002; Milanovič et al., 2002; Cenic, 2004) state that the technical training is the most important type of training. Based on the opinion of the other group of scientists (Литвинов и др., 1996; Canadian Sports Centres, 2008), the time attributed to the physical training shall be reduced in parallel to the increase of age of an athlete, i.e. during the first year of training the largest part shall be attributed to physical training. One of the most important conditions of effective sports training is control and management of sports training in order to determine and assess physical development, physical fitness, change in the level of technical skills (Johnson, Nelson, 1986; Bouchard et al., 1997; Stonkus, 2002, 2003; Graham et al., 2004; Barfield et al., 2007; Mirkov et al., 2008; Balčiūnas et al., 2009; Robinson, 2010). According to some studies performed, age periods which are the most sensitive for the training of motor abilities (Komi, 1992; Shephard, Astrand, 1992; Kraemer, 1993; Pauletto, 1995; Alter, 1996; Donald, Chu, 1996; Dintiman et al., 1997; Donald, Chu, 1998; Viru et al., 1999; Baquet et al., 2003; Boisseau, Delamarche, 2000; Malina et al., 2004; Ford et al., 2011), technical skills (Schmidt, 1991; Latash, 1993; Burton, Miller, 1998; Schmidt, Lee, 1999; Cabodevilla, 2008; Kasa, 2006; Zambova, Tomanek, 2012) is childhood and adolescence. Scientists (Impellizzeri et al., 2005; Wolf, 2006; Ljach, 2007) provide that with respect to training of young basketball players fitness objectives shall be important next to the training objectives, as they influence achievement of the results of a young personality. Considering that the population of Lithuania is just below 3 million (2.96 million; http://www.stat.gov.lt, 2013), the results and achievement of Lithuanian basketball men national team (5th place in the world ranking, 406 points; http://www.fiba.com, 2013) and of national teams of younger age groups (3rd place in the world ranking, 261 points (http://www.fiba.com, 2013) in the Olympic Games, World and European championships should be treated as exceptional phenomena. A case study of an effective training institution could help to form an assumption on the peculiarities of the long-term development program successfully implemented by the Lithuanian coaches. The relevance of the problem is influenced by the following factors: • a special meaning for the development of a personality has genuine activity in childhood and adolescence (Jovaiša, 1993; 2001); • basketball is becoming a more important social phenomena as sports results represent the country (Wilson, Spink, 2006; Sakalauskas, 2010; Paulauskas, 2010); • in order to form a training concept of young basketball players, tendencies of the training of the training and fitness of the best athletes has to be analyzed (Leonardo et al., 2002; Stonkus, 2003); • train and manage the process of young basketball players so that the best results are achieved in the most important competitions (Balyi, Williams, 2009). It is especially important for Lithuania as it has limited resources of sports talent and finance; • only the scientifically-sound optimum training program of the young basketball players (aged 7–17 years) shall allow the athletes to realize their individual potential in order to achieve results in sports, as well as to realize sensitive opportunities for the development of personality (Aksen, Gunay, 2010). Research problem: due to different training of the young basketball players and different concept of the fitness influencing the training, it is important to determine, which peculiarities of the training programs applied effectively while aiming for the best results influence the fitness of the players during different age periods. Research hypothesis: a case study of coaching of young basketball players of Sabonis Basketball Center aged 7–17 years will reveal the structure of the long-term coaching of the players. Research object: coaching of young basketball players (aged 7–17 years). Research aim: conceptualization of the peculiarities of coaching of young basketball players (aged 7–17 years). Research objectives: 1. Determine the peculiarities of the content changes and amount of load of the training programs of basketball players aged 7–17 years. 2. Evaluate the body composition indicators, physical and technical fitness of basketball players aged 7–17 years by creating the rank scales of the indicators. 3. Determine the model values of the sport performance indicators of basketball players aged 12–17 years. 4. Reveal the selection and coaching model of Sabonis Basketball Center. Originality and theoretical significance of the research As basketball is becoming a more complex sport (faster, more athletic and more versatile), the results depend on many internal and external factors (Stonkus, 2003; Wissel, 2012). Training of young basketball players has become multidimensional, systemic process as multidisciplinary knowledge, methods and measures are used. A revealed phenomenological interaction between training and fitness of young basketball players aged 7–17 years is based on the following aspects: • a selection and training model of Sabonis Basketball Center has been revealed; • a training program of young basketball players aged 7–17 years applied in Sabonis Basketball Center has been revealed; • a rank scale of body composition indicators, physical and technical fitness of young basketball players aged 7–17 years has been formed; • the most sensitive age periods for the training of motor abilities and technical skills of young basketball players have been determined; • the characteristics of sport performance of basketball players aged 12–17 years have been formed. Practical application of the research Training programs and their peculiarities for different age periods provided in this dissertation shall help Lithuanian coaches to organize, plan and implement the long-term development of young basketball players more effectively. The rank scales of young basketball players' body composition indicators, physical and technical fitness and the model indicator values of sport performance, which have been formed for the purposes of this dissertation, shall help to select and train the players, prepare them for competitions and develop the highly skilled athletes. The established sensitive age periods for the training of motor abilities and technical skills shall assist the coaches in developing the abilities of young basketball players more effectively. Conclusions 1. It was determined that aiming to develop the basic skills of basketball technique and game awareness the specialized development prevail
Relevance of the topic. Lithuania is not a large country and sports talents are not emerging very often. It does not depend on the social or economic situation of the country (Schnabel et al., 1994; Cedaro, 2000; Carling et al., 2009). When giving the opportunity for the talent to achieve positive results in sports, the talented personalities have to be selected, the purposeful training program has to be concluded as well as the monitoring of the practical implementation of the program has to be performed (Regnier et al., 1993; Durand-Bush, Salmela, 2001; Abernethy, 2008; Vaeyens et al., 2008; Bailey et al., 2010; Burgess, Naughton, 2010; Philips et al., 2010; Ford et al., 2011). Therefore it is very important that the training of the athletes has to be conceptualized, so a small quantity of the talented athletes is developed as optimally as possible. Inaccurate training system prevents the athletes from revealing their own potential. Thus, only the consistent sports training system shall stimulate a more rapid improvement of the sports results, as it is harder to identify a talent than to develop it (Balyi, Hamilton, 1999; Raslanas, 2001; Malina et al., 2004; Balyi, Williams, 2009; Stafford, 2010). It was considered for a long time that success in sports depends solely on the athletes, who are physically strong and developed tactically (Krasilshchikov, 2011), however, due to increase of the competition between athletes (De Bosscher et al., 2006) and major political and commercial influence of sports (Green, Oakley, 2001), there is a necessity to create long-term development programs with respect to different sports (Balyi, Hamilton, 2004; Balyi, Williams, 2009; Stafford, 2010). Long-term development of the young athletes taking place for a period between eight–to–twelve years before becoming elite athlete is a purposeful and integral didactic process (Ericsson, Charness, 1994; Salmela et al., 1998; Balyi, 2001; Balyi, Hamilton, 2004; Balyi, Williams, 2009; Stafford, 2010) which is significantly affected by the body composition of the athletes (genotypic and phenotypic factors) (Heyward, Stolarczyk, 1996; Jebb et al., 2000; Drinkwater et al., 2008; Ostojic et al., 2006; Abraham, 2010), training program (Trninic et al., 2001; Milanovič, 2002; Balčiūnas et al., 2006), exceptionally physical (Drinkwater et al., 2008; Delextrat, Cohen, 2009) and technical fitness (Apostolidis et al., 2004; Karpowicz, 2006), nature of sport performance (Hucinski, 2004; Dembinski, 2005). A reasonable long-term development system of young basketball players began to take shape in seventh decade of the 20th century. Different types of training were distinguished in such system: integral, physical, technical, tactical and theoretic (Stonkus, 1992; Butautas, 2002). The scientists have different opinions on the long-term development. Zeldovič and Keraminas (Зельдович, Кераминас, 1964) provide that 50 % of the total training time in the training cycle of the boys aged 11–14 years should be attributed to the physical and technical training. Dobry (1986) and Stonkus (1985) provide that physical training should prevail (at least 40 % of the total training time) in the training of boys aged 11–14 years. Other scientists (Mikulowsky, Oszast, 1976, Butautas, 2002; Milanovič et al., 2002; Cenic, 2004) state that the technical training is the most important type of training. Based on the opinion of the other group of scientists (Литвинов и др., 1996; Canadian Sports Centres, 2008), the time attributed to the physical training shall be reduced in parallel to the increase of age of an athlete, i.e. during the first year of training the largest part shall be attributed to physical training. One of the most important conditions of effective sports training is control and management of sports training in order to determine and assess physical development, physical fitness, change in the level of technical skills (Johnson, Nelson, 1986; Bouchard et al., 1997; Stonkus, 2002, 2003; Graham et al., 2004; Barfield et al., 2007; Mirkov et al., 2008; Balčiūnas et al., 2009; Robinson, 2010). According to some studies performed, age periods which are the most sensitive for the training of motor abilities (Komi, 1992; Shephard, Astrand, 1992; Kraemer, 1993; Pauletto, 1995; Alter, 1996; Donald, Chu, 1996; Dintiman et al., 1997; Donald, Chu, 1998; Viru et al., 1999; Baquet et al., 2003; Boisseau, Delamarche, 2000; Malina et al., 2004; Ford et al., 2011), technical skills (Schmidt, 1991; Latash, 1993; Burton, Miller, 1998; Schmidt, Lee, 1999; Cabodevilla, 2008; Kasa, 2006; Zambova, Tomanek, 2012) is childhood and adolescence. Scientists (Impellizzeri et al., 2005; Wolf, 2006; Ljach, 2007) provide that with respect to training of young basketball players fitness objectives shall be important next to the training objectives, as they influence achievement of the results of a young personality. Considering that the population of Lithuania is just below 3 million (2.96 million; http://www.stat.gov.lt, 2013), the results and achievement of Lithuanian basketball men national team (5th place in the world ranking, 406 points; http://www.fiba.com, 2013) and of national teams of younger age groups (3rd place in the world ranking, 261 points (http://www.fiba.com, 2013) in the Olympic Games, World and European championships should be treated as exceptional phenomena. A case study of an effective training institution could help to form an assumption on the peculiarities of the long-term development program successfully implemented by the Lithuanian coaches. The relevance of the problem is influenced by the following factors: • a special meaning for the development of a personality has genuine activity in childhood and adolescence (Jovaiša, 1993; 2001); • basketball is becoming a more important social phenomena as sports results represent the country (Wilson, Spink, 2006; Sakalauskas, 2010; Paulauskas, 2010); • in order to form a training concept of young basketball players, tendencies of the training of the training and fitness of the best athletes has to be analyzed (Leonardo et al., 2002; Stonkus, 2003); • train and manage the process of young basketball players so that the best results are achieved in the most important competitions (Balyi, Williams, 2009). It is especially important for Lithuania as it has limited resources of sports talent and finance; • only the scientifically-sound optimum training program of the young basketball players (aged 7–17 years) shall allow the athletes to realize their individual potential in order to achieve results in sports, as well as to realize sensitive opportunities for the development of personality (Aksen, Gunay, 2010). Research problem: due to different training of the young basketball players and different concept of the fitness influencing the training, it is important to determine, which peculiarities of the training programs applied effectively while aiming for the best results influence the fitness of the players during different age periods. Research hypothesis: a case study of coaching of young basketball players of Sabonis Basketball Center aged 7–17 years will reveal the structure of the long-term coaching of the players. Research object: coaching of young basketball players (aged 7–17 years). Research aim: conceptualization of the peculiarities of coaching of young basketball players (aged 7–17 years). Research objectives: 1. Determine the peculiarities of the content changes and amount of load of the training programs of basketball players aged 7–17 years. 2. Evaluate the body composition indicators, physical and technical fitness of basketball players aged 7–17 years by creating the rank scales of the indicators. 3. Determine the model values of the sport performance indicators of basketball players aged 12–17 years. 4. Reveal the selection and coaching model of Sabonis Basketball Center. Originality and theoretical significance of the research As basketball is becoming a more complex sport (faster, more athletic and more versatile), the results depend on many internal and external factors (Stonkus, 2003; Wissel, 2012). Training of young basketball players has become multidimensional, systemic process as multidisciplinary knowledge, methods and measures are used. A revealed phenomenological interaction between training and fitness of young basketball players aged 7–17 years is based on the following aspects: • a selection and training model of Sabonis Basketball Center has been revealed; • a training program of young basketball players aged 7–17 years applied in Sabonis Basketball Center has been revealed; • a rank scale of body composition indicators, physical and technical fitness of young basketball players aged 7–17 years has been formed; • the most sensitive age periods for the training of motor abilities and technical skills of young basketball players have been determined; • the characteristics of sport performance of basketball players aged 12–17 years have been formed. Practical application of the research Training programs and their peculiarities for different age periods provided in this dissertation shall help Lithuanian coaches to organize, plan and implement the long-term development of young basketball players more effectively. The rank scales of young basketball players' body composition indicators, physical and technical fitness and the model indicator values of sport performance, which have been formed for the purposes of this dissertation, shall help to select and train the players, prepare them for competitions and develop the highly skilled athletes. The established sensitive age periods for the training of motor abilities and technical skills shall assist the coaches in developing the abilities of young basketball players more effectively. Conclusions 1. It was determined that aiming to develop the basic skills of basketball technique and game awareness the specialized development prevail
Relevance of the research. Recognition and education of children and teenagers gifted in sporting activity is an important part of the attainment of particular results in sports. Identification of children and teenagers gifted for sports is a process, when athletes are recognised at the early stage of their development and have a possibility to attain high results in adulthood (Williams, Reilly, 2000; Vaeyens, Lenoir, Williams, Philippaerts, 2008). It means that individually or in combination, their physical, physiological, psychological and social features, as well as technical capabilities can help to predict their potential in the future (Williams, Reilly, 2000). Some scientists maintain that aiming to achieve high results in sports gifted athletes should be selected by appropriate methods at an early age and involved into a long and systematically planned training (Sevim, 2007; Bompa, Haff, 2009). However, recognition of young gifted athletes is a complex process, since the results of teenagers' physical development, as well as their value-based provisions, attitudes and motives change in the process of growing and development (Callender, 2010; Gonçalves, Rama, Figueriredo, 2012). According to some scientists (Byrne, Davenport, Mazanov, 2007), adolescence is a specific and rather complicated age period, when rapid and big changes occur not only in physical development, but also in psycho-social maturity. Therefore, recognition and selection of children and teenagers gifted for sports is a multi-faceted process, when it is important not only to evaluate an athlete's present appearance considering their physical, physiological, psychological, cognitive and sociological features, and technical capacities, but also evacuating such important aspects as social, emotional, motivational and temperamental factors (Pruna, Tribaldos, Bahdur, 2018). Whether the talents will be disclosed depends not only on an athlete's innate capabilities, but also on the educational factors affecting them. A great influence is made by the coach and educational environment created by the school, which allows developing and growing an athlete's personality (Williams, Reilly, 2000; Pensgaard, Roberts, 2002). However, it is not the school that affects the educational environment and motivational climate. The attitude of family members towards physical activity, their support for an athlete, the coach and his/her ability to appropriately plan the training content, teammates, facilities, attention from the media and other people, as well as values and social provisions also contribute to this process (Hassandra, Goudas, Chroni, 2003; Lenzen, Brouwers, Dejardin et al., 2004). An effective programme of the identification of children and teenagers gifted for sports can help to recognize talents at an early stage, which can become a vitally important element when trying to enhance successful competitiveness of the country (Vaeyens, Gullich, Warr, Philippaerts, 2009). The programmes of the identification of children and teenagers gifted for sports facilitate the process of athlete selection, which maximizes the number of gifted persons (Anshel, Lidor, 2012). Early recognition of gifted athletes can attract funding and training opportunities for athletes having the greatest potential for success (Durand-Bush, Salmela, 2001). Countries are concerned with creating research-based methods to select the most gifted athletes that could successfully compete on the international sports arena. Over the past two decades, the increasing number of studies have been accomplished trying to understand the issues concerning experience in the identification and education of children and teenagers gifted for sports (Williams, Reilly, 2000; Abbott, Button, Pepping et al., 2005; De Bosscher, De Knop, Van Bottenburg, Shibli, 2006; Pearson, Naughton, Torode, 2006; Lidor, Cote, Hackfort, 2009; Anshel, Lidor, 2012; Roth, 2012; Brouwers, De Bosscher, Sotiriadou, 2012; Nijs, Gallardo-Gallardo, Dries, Sels, 2014; Swann, Moran, Piggott, 2015). However, despite considerable achievements in the process of identification of children and teenagers gifted for sports, a universally recognized model of the identification of children and teenagers gifted for sports does not exist Hohmann, 2001; Abbott, Collins, 2004; Vaeyens, Lenoir, Williams, Philippaerts, 2008; Davids, Araujo, Vilar, Pinder, 2013; Louzada, Maiorano, Ara, 2016). There are cases when decisions concerning the selection of athletes are made subjectively, without scientific validation (Regnier, Salmela, Russell, 1993; Williams, Franks, 1998; Abbott, Button, Pepping, Collins, 2005), whereas a lot of potentially gifted athletes are not selected due to inappropriate selection criteria or applying no selection criteria at all, as well as due to athletes changing a sports branch or a large number of drop-outs from sports (Abbott, Collins, 2004; MacNamara, Collins, 2011; Tranckle, Cushion, 2006; Winfried, 2001). It is important that children and teenagers get interested in sports, are selected to appropriate sport branches, as well as attempts are made so that they do not break their sporting career too early (Schiffer, 2013); every year approximately 35% of young athletes quit sports and it is not clear if they ever resume their sporting activity again (Purcell, 2005; Breunner, 2012). Therefore, the application of these selection criteria and a large drop-out of athletes from sports can be partly justified in countries with high population. The principle of natural selection can have a greater influence. In the case of a small country (for instance, Lithuania), such a selection is not suitable. Trying to avoid subjectivity, the majority of the latest scientific studies in sports science are related to the investigation of the influence of innate (natural) and acquired (educated) features on sporting results (Baker, Bagats, Büsch, Schorer, 2012; Coutinho, Mesquita, Fonseca, De Martin-Silva, 2014; Davids, Baker, 2007). With the increasing competition among athletes over the past period (De Bosscher et al., 2006) and sports becoming a political and commercial phenomenon (Green, Oakley, 2001), there appears a necessity for timely and appropriate choice of a specific branch of sports, which would help to achieve good results in the future. Different methods and programmes of selecting the most capable athletes are applied all over the world. In the majority of countries, selection models consisting of several stages are applied, which rely on a coach's competence, test results and analysis of competition results, whereas the selected athletes are invited to learn and do sports in specialised schools. Similarly to some other countries, in Lithuania concern about (self-) education of children gifted for sports has led to the emergence of sports gymnasiums. Panevėžys Raimundas Sargūnas Sports Gymnasium is one of the three general education schools of Lithuania that implement basic and general education alongside with sports education, and in which a part of sports education in the field of specialized education aims at training students that have special educational needs due to their giftedness in sports for high excellence and results (Order No. V-1010 of the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania, 24 October 2014). The programme outlines the knowledge, abilities and attitudes that athletes should acquire to comply with physical, technical, tactical requirements, as well as requirements for fitness and achievements. The purpose of Panevėžys Raimundas Sargūnas Sports Gymnasium gives a possibility to analyse the gymnasium as a case revealing the aspects of the selection of teenagers gifted for sports, which can help to better understand what educational preconditions are created and how to select teenagers gifted for sports and to disclose their talents, as well as to help create and improve practical models for schools educating teenagers gifted for sports. Therefore, the research question was formulated: how does the selection of teenagers gifted for sports occur and how are the educational preconditions for the selection of teenagers gifted for sports created? The problem-based question and the fact that a universal and effective model of the selection of children and teenagers gifted for sports does not exist, highlight the research object, i. e. the selection of teenagers gifted for sports. The aim of the research is to reveal the educational preconditions for the selection of teenagers gifted for sports. The research objectives: 1. To theoretically validate the educational preconditions for the selection of teenagers gifted for sports. 2. To identify the educational factors and notice of the choice of sporting activity by athletes. 3. To explore the physical and functional fitness of athletes and its dynamics. 4. To determine the attitudes of athletes as educational preconditions for the selection of teenagers gifted for sports. 5. To determine the attitudes of coaches as educational preconditions for the selection of teenagers gifted for sports. Scientific novelty and practical significance of the doctoral research ● The validated educational factors that influence the selection of teenagers gifted for sports allow better understanding of the factors of choosing a sporting activity and survival in sports as educational preconditions for the development of capabilities. ● The determined dynamics of physical and functional fitness of teenage athletes in an educational environment beneficial to the development of their innate capabilities for sports helps to understand the dynamics and multi-dimensionality of the selection of teenagers gifted for sports as a process, as well as problematic control of its components when identifying and developing their capabilities. The case of one of the three sports gymnasiums of Lithuania has been explored in terms of the selection of teenagers gifted for sports – such studies have not been performed in Lithuania so far. ● The results of the theoretical and empirical research complement the theory of sports science with innovative and original data on the expression of the educational preconditions affecting the selection of teenagers gifted for sports. Practical significance. The educational preconditions for the selection of teenagers gifted for sports that affect athletes' decision to choose a sporting activity from other spheres of supplementary education have been analysed and generalised. The determined peculiarities of motivation will help coaches to select appropriate pedagogical and psychological tools to motivate athletes to seek for high results in sports. The educational factors stimulating and aggravating athletes' selection and motivation to seek for high results in sports have been distinguished during the research, the role of a coach as one of educational factors has been revealed in the process of selecting and training athletes – these findings will allow a more purposeful planning of the (self-) development of coaches' competences and provision of all the necessary support concerning the selection of athletes to them. The analysis of the changes in the results of athletes' physical and functional fitness will give a possibility to make a more thorough selection of teenagers gifted for sports to 12 sports branches, as well as to train them more purposefully and effectively for national and international competitions. The research data can be applied in compiling model characteristics of different age periods and different sports branches by specifying training programmes and evaluating the changes in athletes' individual fitness. The research results can be used by the administration, coaches and other employees of athletes' educational centres, federations and sports schools. CONCLUSIONS 1. The search and selection of gifted children is a complex, dynamic, long-lasting, and special educational process that depends on a variety of factors interacting and constantly changing in the process. The factors influencing the selection and results in the sporting activity can be divided into four groups: genetic-physiological, psychological, social, and educational factors. The genetic potential, anthropometric data and physical abilities are essential indicators for the identification and selection of teenagers gifted for sports. Psychological features, such as perseverance, self-confidence, positive attitude, devotion, dedication, strong intrinsic motivation, concentration, attentiveness, and emotional control, are important in selecting gifted teenagers. Social factors include sports policy, culture, natural conditions, geographical location of the country, various opportunities, specific tendencies in the development of modern sports, and support rendered to the participants of the educational process. Educational factors – educational environments, parent support, practice, the coach and teammates, have an educational impact on athletes and can influence their decision making, motivation, habits, training and skills.Therefore, the selection of gifted teenagers should be specific to each sports branch and include a multi-disciplinary approach when clearing out athletes' motives, the attitudes of athletes and coaches, as well as implementing the monitoring athletes. 2. Regardless of gender and a group of sports branches, the main factors that motivate the choice of sports activities include educational (motivation of the coach, parents and friends) and internal cognitive motives (desire to master a sports technique). The least important motives involve material (possession of own inventory, good facilities for training), geographical (a sports school close to home), not being admitted into another sports branch, or lack of other choices. The choice of a sport from other areas of supplementary education is determined by a desire to be physically fit and a desire to engage in leisure activities. The least important motives are the desire to become famous and the desire to be attractive. Intrinsic motivation is more pronounced than extrinsic.The boys' external motivation is stronger than that of girls. Amotivation is more characteristic of the girls. The internal and external motivation is more expressed by the athletes of team sports; external motivation in individual sports appears to be the weakest, whereas the weakest intrinsic motivation and the strongest amotivation is revealed in duelling sports. 3. The results of physical development, physical fitness and functional capacity of stronger athletes are not always statistically significantly different from those of other athletes or control group athletes. A part of the indicators of stronger athletes are better, which leads to an assumption that alongside with psychosocial abilities, social factors, educational factors, and high motivation, they are essential to achieve high results. The correlation study reveals which indicators need to be taken into account and developed when selecting teenagers gifted for sports and achieving high results. 4. The most important factors for teenagers' decision to start doing sports and choose a sports branch include the surrounding environment, where the most important roles are ascribed to the coach, family members and friends. The genetic-physiological and psychological factors that are affected by the coaching and environmental factors are considered as the main factors determining success in sports. The coach is identified as the most important educational factor in the selection of gifted teenagers, whereas a favourable climate, motivating influence of the coach, his/her competence and ideal conditions help to disclose the athletes' talents and achieve high results. While choosing a sport and training, the self-educational factor is distinguished seeking to change oneself, as well as to change own or others' future relating it to sports. The factors that reduce the motivation of athletes and thus prevent the full potential of talented athletes, as well as leading them to end their sporting careers are highlighted: stabilisation of their progress in the results, injuries and high loads of physical activity. 5. The coaches distinguish the importance of psychological and physiological factors in selecting teenagers gifted for sports. The coaches consider the teenagers to be prospective athletes who have a strong internal and external motivation to train, innate capabilities, and physical abilities that are influenced by environmental factors, coaching competence, and practice. The role of the coach as the most important educational factor is highlighted in the search for gifted athletes among those already in the sport or referring to the competence of other coaches, recommending athletes who can achieve higher results in other sports branches. Identifying gifted teenagers-athletes, the coaches look for dedicated, hardworking and goal-seeking athletes with strong motivation. Family members and peers are recognised as educational factors that have a significant impact on athlete selection. The research also highlights the problems faced by coaches in the selection process. These are physiological and psychological changes in the body and the priorities of teenage athletes, which are influenced by their surrounding environment.
Relevance of the research. Recognition and education of children and teenagers gifted in sporting activity is an important part of the attainment of particular results in sports. Identification of children and teenagers gifted for sports is a process, when athletes are recognised at the early stage of their development and have a possibility to attain high results in adulthood (Williams, Reilly, 2000; Vaeyens, Lenoir, Williams, Philippaerts, 2008). It means that individually or in combination, their physical, physiological, psychological and social features, as well as technical capabilities can help to predict their potential in the future (Williams, Reilly, 2000). Some scientists maintain that aiming to achieve high results in sports gifted athletes should be selected by appropriate methods at an early age and involved into a long and systematically planned training (Sevim, 2007; Bompa, Haff, 2009). However, recognition of young gifted athletes is a complex process, since the results of teenagers' physical development, as well as their value-based provisions, attitudes and motives change in the process of growing and development (Callender, 2010; Gonçalves, Rama, Figueriredo, 2012). According to some scientists (Byrne, Davenport, Mazanov, 2007), adolescence is a specific and rather complicated age period, when rapid and big changes occur not only in physical development, but also in psycho-social maturity. Therefore, recognition and selection of children and teenagers gifted for sports is a multi-faceted process, when it is important not only to evaluate an athlete's present appearance considering their physical, physiological, psychological, cognitive and sociological features, and technical capacities, but also evacuating such important aspects as social, emotional, motivational and temperamental factors (Pruna, Tribaldos, Bahdur, 2018). Whether the talents will be disclosed depends not only on an athlete's innate capabilities, but also on the educational factors affecting them. A great influence is made by the coach and educational environment created by the school, which allows developing and growing an athlete's personality (Williams, Reilly, 2000; Pensgaard, Roberts, 2002). However, it is not the school that affects the educational environment and motivational climate. The attitude of family members towards physical activity, their support for an athlete, the coach and his/her ability to appropriately plan the training content, teammates, facilities, attention from the media and other people, as well as values and social provisions also contribute to this process (Hassandra, Goudas, Chroni, 2003; Lenzen, Brouwers, Dejardin et al., 2004). An effective programme of the identification of children and teenagers gifted for sports can help to recognize talents at an early stage, which can become a vitally important element when trying to enhance successful competitiveness of the country (Vaeyens, Gullich, Warr, Philippaerts, 2009). The programmes of the identification of children and teenagers gifted for sports facilitate the process of athlete selection, which maximizes the number of gifted persons (Anshel, Lidor, 2012). Early recognition of gifted athletes can attract funding and training opportunities for athletes having the greatest potential for success (Durand-Bush, Salmela, 2001). Countries are concerned with creating research-based methods to select the most gifted athletes that could successfully compete on the international sports arena. Over the past two decades, the increasing number of studies have been accomplished trying to understand the issues concerning experience in the identification and education of children and teenagers gifted for sports (Williams, Reilly, 2000; Abbott, Button, Pepping et al., 2005; De Bosscher, De Knop, Van Bottenburg, Shibli, 2006; Pearson, Naughton, Torode, 2006; Lidor, Cote, Hackfort, 2009; Anshel, Lidor, 2012; Roth, 2012; Brouwers, De Bosscher, Sotiriadou, 2012; Nijs, Gallardo-Gallardo, Dries, Sels, 2014; Swann, Moran, Piggott, 2015). However, despite considerable achievements in the process of identification of children and teenagers gifted for sports, a universally recognized model of the identification of children and teenagers gifted for sports does not exist Hohmann, 2001; Abbott, Collins, 2004; Vaeyens, Lenoir, Williams, Philippaerts, 2008; Davids, Araujo, Vilar, Pinder, 2013; Louzada, Maiorano, Ara, 2016). There are cases when decisions concerning the selection of athletes are made subjectively, without scientific validation (Regnier, Salmela, Russell, 1993; Williams, Franks, 1998; Abbott, Button, Pepping, Collins, 2005), whereas a lot of potentially gifted athletes are not selected due to inappropriate selection criteria or applying no selection criteria at all, as well as due to athletes changing a sports branch or a large number of drop-outs from sports (Abbott, Collins, 2004; MacNamara, Collins, 2011; Tranckle, Cushion, 2006; Winfried, 2001). It is important that children and teenagers get interested in sports, are selected to appropriate sport branches, as well as attempts are made so that they do not break their sporting career too early (Schiffer, 2013); every year approximately 35% of young athletes quit sports and it is not clear if they ever resume their sporting activity again (Purcell, 2005; Breunner, 2012). Therefore, the application of these selection criteria and a large drop-out of athletes from sports can be partly justified in countries with high population. The principle of natural selection can have a greater influence. In the case of a small country (for instance, Lithuania), such a selection is not suitable. Trying to avoid subjectivity, the majority of the latest scientific studies in sports science are related to the investigation of the influence of innate (natural) and acquired (educated) features on sporting results (Baker, Bagats, Büsch, Schorer, 2012; Coutinho, Mesquita, Fonseca, De Martin-Silva, 2014; Davids, Baker, 2007). With the increasing competition among athletes over the past period (De Bosscher et al., 2006) and sports becoming a political and commercial phenomenon (Green, Oakley, 2001), there appears a necessity for timely and appropriate choice of a specific branch of sports, which would help to achieve good results in the future. Different methods and programmes of selecting the most capable athletes are applied all over the world. In the majority of countries, selection models consisting of several stages are applied, which rely on a coach's competence, test results and analysis of competition results, whereas the selected athletes are invited to learn and do sports in specialised schools. Similarly to some other countries, in Lithuania concern about (self-) education of children gifted for sports has led to the emergence of sports gymnasiums. Panevėžys Raimundas Sargūnas Sports Gymnasium is one of the three general education schools of Lithuania that implement basic and general education alongside with sports education, and in which a part of sports education in the field of specialized education aims at training students that have special educational needs due to their giftedness in sports for high excellence and results (Order No. V-1010 of the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania, 24 October 2014). The programme outlines the knowledge, abilities and attitudes that athletes should acquire to comply with physical, technical, tactical requirements, as well as requirements for fitness and achievements. The purpose of Panevėžys Raimundas Sargūnas Sports Gymnasium gives a possibility to analyse the gymnasium as a case revealing the aspects of the selection of teenagers gifted for sports, which can help to better understand what educational preconditions are created and how to select teenagers gifted for sports and to disclose their talents, as well as to help create and improve practical models for schools educating teenagers gifted for sports. Therefore, the research question was formulated: how does the selection of teenagers gifted for sports occur and how are the educational preconditions for the selection of teenagers gifted for sports created? The problem-based question and the fact that a universal and effective model of the selection of children and teenagers gifted for sports does not exist, highlight the research object, i. e. the selection of teenagers gifted for sports. The aim of the research is to reveal the educational preconditions for the selection of teenagers gifted for sports. The research objectives: 1. To theoretically validate the educational preconditions for the selection of teenagers gifted for sports. 2. To identify the educational factors and notice of the choice of sporting activity by athletes. 3. To explore the physical and functional fitness of athletes and its dynamics. 4. To determine the attitudes of athletes as educational preconditions for the selection of teenagers gifted for sports. 5. To determine the attitudes of coaches as educational preconditions for the selection of teenagers gifted for sports. Scientific novelty and practical significance of the doctoral research ● The validated educational factors that influence the selection of teenagers gifted for sports allow better understanding of the factors of choosing a sporting activity and survival in sports as educational preconditions for the development of capabilities. ● The determined dynamics of physical and functional fitness of teenage athletes in an educational environment beneficial to the development of their innate capabilities for sports helps to understand the dynamics and multi-dimensionality of the selection of teenagers gifted for sports as a process, as well as problematic control of its components when identifying and developing their capabilities. The case of one of the three sports gymnasiums of Lithuania has been explored in terms of the selection of teenagers gifted for sports – such studies have not been performed in Lithuania so far. ● The results of the theoretical and empirical research complement the theory of sports science with innovative and original data on the expression of the educational preconditions affecting the selection of teenagers gifted for sports. Practical significance. The educational preconditions for the selection of teenagers gifted for sports that affect athletes' decision to choose a sporting activity from other spheres of supplementary education have been analysed and generalised. The determined peculiarities of motivation will help coaches to select appropriate pedagogical and psychological tools to motivate athletes to seek for high results in sports. The educational factors stimulating and aggravating athletes' selection and motivation to seek for high results in sports have been distinguished during the research, the role of a coach as one of educational factors has been revealed in the process of selecting and training athletes – these findings will allow a more purposeful planning of the (self-) development of coaches' competences and provision of all the necessary support concerning the selection of athletes to them. The analysis of the changes in the results of athletes' physical and functional fitness will give a possibility to make a more thorough selection of teenagers gifted for sports to 12 sports branches, as well as to train them more purposefully and effectively for national and international competitions. The research data can be applied in compiling model characteristics of different age periods and different sports branches by specifying training programmes and evaluating the changes in athletes' individual fitness. The research results can be used by the administration, coaches and other employees of athletes' educational centres, federations and sports schools. CONCLUSIONS 1. The search and selection of gifted children is a complex, dynamic, long-lasting, and special educational process that depends on a variety of factors interacting and constantly changing in the process. The factors influencing the selection and results in the sporting activity can be divided into four groups: genetic-physiological, psychological, social, and educational factors. The genetic potential, anthropometric data and physical abilities are essential indicators for the identification and selection of teenagers gifted for sports. Psychological features, such as perseverance, self-confidence, positive attitude, devotion, dedication, strong intrinsic motivation, concentration, attentiveness, and emotional control, are important in selecting gifted teenagers. Social factors include sports policy, culture, natural conditions, geographical location of the country, various opportunities, specific tendencies in the development of modern sports, and support rendered to the participants of the educational process. Educational factors – educational environments, parent support, practice, the coach and teammates, have an educational impact on athletes and can influence their decision making, motivation, habits, training and skills.Therefore, the selection of gifted teenagers should be specific to each sports branch and include a multi-disciplinary approach when clearing out athletes' motives, the attitudes of athletes and coaches, as well as implementing the monitoring athletes. 2. Regardless of gender and a group of sports branches, the main factors that motivate the choice of sports activities include educational (motivation of the coach, parents and friends) and internal cognitive motives (desire to master a sports technique). The least important motives involve material (possession of own inventory, good facilities for training), geographical (a sports school close to home), not being admitted into another sports branch, or lack of other choices. The choice of a sport from other areas of supplementary education is determined by a desire to be physically fit and a desire to engage in leisure activities. The least important motives are the desire to become famous and the desire to be attractive. Intrinsic motivation is more pronounced than extrinsic.The boys' external motivation is stronger than that of girls. Amotivation is more characteristic of the girls. The internal and external motivation is more expressed by the athletes of team sports; external motivation in individual sports appears to be the weakest, whereas the weakest intrinsic motivation and the strongest amotivation is revealed in duelling sports. 3. The results of physical development, physical fitness and functional capacity of stronger athletes are not always statistically significantly different from those of other athletes or control group athletes. A part of the indicators of stronger athletes are better, which leads to an assumption that alongside with psychosocial abilities, social factors, educational factors, and high motivation, they are essential to achieve high results. The correlation study reveals which indicators need to be taken into account and developed when selecting teenagers gifted for sports and achieving high results. 4. The most important factors for teenagers' decision to start doing sports and choose a sports branch include the surrounding environment, where the most important roles are ascribed to the coach, family members and friends. The genetic-physiological and psychological factors that are affected by the coaching and environmental factors are considered as the main factors determining success in sports. The coach is identified as the most important educational factor in the selection of gifted teenagers, whereas a favourable climate, motivating influence of the coach, his/her competence and ideal conditions help to disclose the athletes' talents and achieve high results. While choosing a sport and training, the self-educational factor is distinguished seeking to change oneself, as well as to change own or others' future relating it to sports. The factors that reduce the motivation of athletes and thus prevent the full potential of talented athletes, as well as leading them to end their sporting careers are highlighted: stabilisation of their progress in the results, injuries and high loads of physical activity. 5. The coaches distinguish the importance of psychological and physiological factors in selecting teenagers gifted for sports. The coaches consider the teenagers to be prospective athletes who have a strong internal and external motivation to train, innate capabilities, and physical abilities that are influenced by environmental factors, coaching competence, and practice. The role of the coach as the most important educational factor is highlighted in the search for gifted athletes among those already in the sport or referring to the competence of other coaches, recommending athletes who can achieve higher results in other sports branches. Identifying gifted teenagers-athletes, the coaches look for dedicated, hardworking and goal-seeking athletes with strong motivation. Family members and peers are recognised as educational factors that have a significant impact on athlete selection. The research also highlights the problems faced by coaches in the selection process. These are physiological and psychological changes in the body and the priorities of teenage athletes, which are influenced by their surrounding environment.
